The next time you see a listing on eBay or Craigslist or a forum for a Fitbit device that’s too cheap to be true, it probably is. As much as we’d all love to get our hands on a good deal, sometimes this can also mean that we end up getting scammed, but thankfully US Customs has been doing their job as they have managed to seize $35,000 worth of fake Fitbits recently.The devices were seized as part of a shipment to Philadelphia from Hong Kong. Speaking to Gizmodo, Steve Sapp, Public Affairs Officer at CBP in Philadelphia said, “We look for consumer goods that may not be in compliance. We’ve been seizing hoverboards, Beats headphones, and this Fitbit seizure is the biggest of that kind of item that I’ve seen.”
So what is the big deal, some of you might be asking. First of all besides it being illegal, fake devices might not necessarily adhere to the same safety standards set in place by authorities that legit companies have to comply with. This means that anything could happen and they will not be held accountable.
Given that we have heard many stories of lithium-ion batteries exploding, we’re sure the last thing you want is to have a fake Fitbit catching on fire or exploding while you’re wearing it, right? So like we said, if you do come across a Fitbit being sold for significantly less than what is being offered in the market, maybe you should reconsider your purchase.
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